The Art of Community: A Reflection on Creating and Belonging

In this retrospective blog, we will take a look at past artist spotlights, the pairing of art and community, and my personal reflections as both an artist and Community Coordinator.

It took me a long time to consider myself a practicing “artist.” I wrestled with feelings of imposter syndrome, especially since I never attended art school. Art found me during a challenging period, and it became the guiding force behind my journey in community building. It led me to places, people, and partnerships that I never could have imagined, even just a few years ago. My purpose here is to connect with readers who yearn for belonging and reflect on how art of any kind can guide us there.

How is the Groundwork Gallery connecting community and art?

If you’ve followed Groundwork for a while, you know that our New Bedford space has a gallery where artists can share and sell their work. The gallery is commission-free so all art sales go directly into the pockets of the artists. We host opening receptions for every artists so friends, family, and our community can come together to celebrate the exhibitions.

Providing this space is invaluable to our local artists, but it’s just a small part of how art fosters community. The real connections happen between individuals when they gather in this shared experience.

“How is community important to you as a practicing artist?“

This is my favorite question to read as part of our artist spotlight questionnaire, which goes out to all who show their work in our gallery. Let’s take a look at how some of the artists answered this question:

Jeff Golenski: Community helps me be a better artist. It’s imperative to be able to ping pong ideas off other creatives & makers. There’s also a social energy that comes about when artists get together in a room together. Ideas begin to flourish and it’s a remarkable thing.

Barbara Healy: I love being part of the local artist community. I paint with a wonderful plein air Westport Art Group Thursday mornings in nice weather.  I like sharing ideas with other artists and learning from them.  Being part of an organization like South Coast Artists with so many professional, successful artists has really pushed me to be a better artist.

Robin Nunes: Community has always played an important role as a practicing artist. I have been giving back to the local communities by offering art lessons to children.

Alyn Carlson: Feeling I’m not alone and that I can always find someone to learn from, guide me through new territory. As I get older it feel it’s also important to pass along what I’ve learned to others.

Lauren Levine: I know that without my arts community I would be totally isolated as a painter. We share our work, our struggles, our insights, our connections, our failures, and our insecurities. I know I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I have without the generosity of my friends and supporters. I hope to be able to give back what I receive.

Izzy Rodriguez: Community is important because it facilitates growth in your art in ways you may not have expected. As a member of the Providence Art Club, I have found an amazing community of artists from various mediums who inspire me to continue growing my art.

Yaz Mehović: As an artist’s place and role in society continuously evolves, it is important to interact with members from both the artistic and wider community, to learn from them, and to be able to reflect on one’s own ideas and perspectives through interactions and working together.

Deana Tavares: Community makes me feel included and part of a whole. Everything and anything is possible when communities come together. We lift one another up and we leave doors open so others can walk through. As a practicing artist, I realize my responsibility to my community to help raise awareness, to help others to be heard, and to shine a light into the darkness.

Mark Phelan: As a teacher, community is everything. And the international community in which I teach provides me insight to a lot of different perspectives. In my practice, I rely on the community of fellow artists for friendship and feedback. I also rely heavily on my community for opportunities to show my work.

The Role of Art in Community Building and Examples

Art provides a space for connection and engagement to occur organically in a community. This happens by promoting self-expression, transforming public spaces, and creating collaboration through community projects. This relationship is emotional and often lead to further developing the bond of the community involved.

Projects centered around art bring the community together, while also supporting local economies. One magical example of this was the FashionRev NB: Runway Revolution which took place in the Killburn Mills this past May. This sold out show (over 200 attendees) was made up of designers, vintage resellers, and makers who created looked with sustainability as the main focal point. Since the show, we have continued our mission to join the Fashion Revolution project, focusing on New Bedford and continuing to reform through individual workshops, community classes, and future fashion runways.

This passed Summer, I collaborated with Wild Sugar Homestead for an immersive, weekend long Natural Dye Workshop called “Botanical Chromatics 2024.” Together with 14 other women, we participated in 4 natural dyeing workshops, foraged dye plants that were grown on the land we were occupying, practiced yoga, and connected through sharing meals and experiences. Not only did this create revenue for myself and the homestead, it also created relationships that have further developed since.

Art can also provide a sense of healing and resilience, encouraging communities to process their experiences. The Groundwork Gallery had the privilege of showcasing a group exhibition entitled “Unite, Reunite, Mend: An Exhibition of Hispanic Artists.” This beautiful offering was both a celebration of cultural heritage, as well as shared stories and perspectives of the Hispanic community. The exhibition was curated by Paulina F. Guzman who reminds us of our shared humanity.

Personal Reflections

Much like the artist’s responses above, my practice has an undeniable interconnection with a sense of belonging and community.

In the early stages of my practice, I played with materials on-hand: kitchen food scraps. Onion skins produced the most delicious yellows and leftover tea bags created beautiful tan hues on my children’s clothing. Family and friends began encouraging my practice by donating their own kitchen scraps, studio equipment, and fabric. Receiving an abundance of materials in such a short time was so impactful to my practice and simultaneously crafted a true sense of community.

I must acknowledge how important these offerings were to me. They opened up a gate of abundance, partnerships, and opportunity. Currently, I lead workshops with my community, collaborate with local makers, and volunteer with hopes of encouraging other to explore the color that exists all around them.

Lessons as a Community Coordinator:

• The importance and invaluable skill of listening to the community and adapting your approach
• Taking critique as an opportunity learn a lesson or change my perspective
• You never know who has the answer to a problem you are trying to solve. And sometimes, the tool to finding your answer is only a conversation away.
• When art acts as catalyst to building your community, this cultivates the truest sense of belonging (speaking as a creator).

Looking Forward

Art and community go hand-in-hand towards building expansiveness, regardless of the differences each individual may enter the room with. When we shift the focus away from being understood, and zoom in on understanding each other, a whole creative portal fueled with abundance awaits. Wherever we go, there we are.

An upcoming, artistic event that cultivates community: O.P.P. Clothing Swap with myself and Samantha Garlington at Studio 5 in the Cummings Artist’s Lofts. This gathering aims to create a unique, curated shopping experience while doing our part to reduce textile waste. Whether you’re a fashion-forward individual or a thrifting enthusiast, this clothing swap is an opportunity to find new looks and connect. Participants can reserve a spot to donate their swap items, or drop-in on the day of. Don’t miss out on this chance refresh your wardrobe with our community!

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If you would like to submit your art work to be considered for our 2025 calendar year, please fill out our Call for Art submission form.